Chris Stratford

OULTON Hall’s Daniel Gavins lost in a three-man play-off as Wiltshire’s Jordan Smith won to claim both the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour’s Matchroom Sport Tour Championship title at Desert Springs Resort in Spain, and with it the Order of Merit crown.

Smith won the Tour Championship on the fourth extra hole having carded a final-round 64, eight under par, to set the 13-under mark which was matched by Midlander Rai (68 68 67) and Gavins (67 65 71).

Gavins had needed victory to edge Gary King out of the Challenge Tour positions.

He had been unwell during his last two rounds and dropped out of the play-off on the third extra hole when he bogeyed the par-four 18th.

Rai’s approach at the next found greenside water and he was forced to take a penalty drop while Smith held his nerve to make par and land himself promotion to the Challenge Tour in his first season as a professional.

“I am over the moon,” said Smith, who takes home a new Motocaddy trolley, Bushnell Tour X Range Finder, Bolle Sunglasses and £500 to spend with HotelPlanner.com as well as the £20,000 winner’s cheque. “It was tough, I am mentally and physically drained but I am delighted.

“Winning the Order of Merit is the icing on the cake and I am looking forward to playing the Challenge Tour now. My target for the season was to get a win so to get another is above and beyond what I was expecting.”

Gavins, who led by four overnight, surrendered shots at holes two and four in his round, but birdied six, 12 and 17 for his closing one-under-par 71.